"It is, after all, mostly little, common things that make up our lives."
--Elisabeth Elliot

Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Spiders...in my tree!!!

And that I do have. As well as everyone else in my immediate family. Why? Because I made them to be put there.

I am big on tradition. I adore traditions that have been passed down from generation to generation but I also love making my own traditions based on those of my ancestors (German and Norwegian)...and crafting stuff with my own two hands to give away to people I love. And so an idea was formed.

You see, I came across a legend once in a catalog. Now, I must tell you that I get about 8-10 catalogs a month from various companies and I rarely, if ever, order a single thing. I use them for the ideas. If I find something that I like, I figure out how to make it at home for way cheaper than what it would cost to buy their version. And mine is always better because it was made by me.

Anyway, kinda got off track there, didn't I? Sorry. Sooo...I saw these cute little beaded spiders in a Christmas catalog and this legend was printed next to it (or a variation of the same thing at least). I loved the fact that the legend was German and I loved even more how odd it would be to have a spider hanging in my tree every year. That is how I got this odd tradition.

Here is my spider and the legend that goes with him. I hope you can find an amazing tradition to pass along in your family as I have in mine. :)

THE LEGEND OF THE CHRISTMAS SPIDER

(A folk legend from Germany and the Ukraine)

Once upon a time, long ago, a gentle mother was busily cleaning the house for the most wonderful day of the year.... The day on which the Christ child came to bless the house. Not a speck of dust was left. Even the spiders had been banished from their cozy corner in the ceiling to avoid the housewife's busy cleaning. They finally fled to the farthest corner of the attic.

T'was the Christmas eve at last! The tree was decorated and waiting for the children to see it. But the poor spiders were frantic, for they could not see the tree, nor be present for the Christ child's visit. But the oldest and wisest spider suggested that perhaps they could peep through the crack in the door to see him. Silently they crept out of their attic, down the stairs, and across the floor to wait in the crack in the threshold. Suddenly, the door opened a wee bit and quickly the spiders scurried into the room. They must see the tree closely, since their eyes weren't accustomed to the brightness of the room... so the crept all over the tree, up and down, over every branch and twig and saw every one of the pretty things. At last they satisfied themselves completely of the Christmas tree beauty.

But alas!! Everywhere they went they had left their webs, and when the little Christ child came to bless the house he was dismayed. He loved the little spiders, for they were God's creatures too, but he knew the mother, who had trimmed the tree for the little children, wouldn't feel the same, so He touched the webs and they all turned to sparkling, shimmering, silver and gold!

Ever since that time, we have hung tinsel on our christmas trees, and according to the legend, it has been a custom to include a spider among the decorations on the tree.

I know it's sooooooo not right to be blogging about Christmas even before Thanksgiving, but this was the assignment from Princess and you all know that I can't pass those up!!!